Hirsh Update on Omicron

In his weekly update on “Talk of the Commonwealth” Dr. Michael Hirsh, who is helping lead the battle against the pandemic in the city of Worcester, talked about this week through the MLK holiday as being the height of the surge.  The Omicron variant may be milder than Delta but the sheer number of infections means hospitals are being stretched to the breaking point.  Dr. Hirsh also pointed to the fact that healthcare workers have been battling this so long now that many are simply exhausted.  He reiterated that the best defense is to get fully vaccinated. 

Only 59% of Worcester’s population is fully vaccinated.  Below the state average.  Hirsh did note there has been an uptick in people being vaccinated and acknowledged the long lines for people getting tested.  The city is responding to the lines by calling for additional volunteers, more days and longer hours at the city’s main testing site, the Mercantile Center. 

Image – The World Health Organization

About Dr. Michael Hirsh

Dr. Michael Hirsh is the city of Worcester Medical Director.  He is the assistant provost for wellness and health at UMass/Memorial, professor of surgery, chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery and surgeon-in-chief for the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center.